It's Show Time! Then it's drive time at Ricart Ford!

   An auto show is like a movie. You can see what it’s all about, but you can’t actually experience any of it. For that, you’ve gotta be in the real world! That’s why we love it every year when the Columbus Auto Show comes to the Greater Columbus Convention Center, and folks have the chance to see what’s new on the road, what’s on the horizon, and sometimes an early

peek at what’s on the drawing board in the automotive industry.

  

  Having a bunch of different cars, trucks, SUV’s, and crossovers all in one place, it’s a car enthusiasts dream, and a car shopper’s candy store! The only problem is you can’t drive the vehicles at the car show. Sure, you can sit in some of them, but you can’t grab the keys (or just push the start button) to fire up your favorite ride and tool around the extra wide hallways in the Convention Center, or up and down the aisles in the Exhibition Hall! That kind of activity definitely does not fit with proper auto show decorum, and will probably get you arrested. Actually, that’s pretty much a guaranteed criminal record and guest appearance in the next Need for Speed game!

   

So, let’s say you saw something you really like at the auto show, but where can you put it through its paces, safely and legally? Umm… that’s exactly the reason why we have as many vehicles as we do at The Ricart Megamall, and as many kinds of vehicles we have! It’s easy to compare and contrast vehicles when you can do it at one location with no fuss and no muss!

   

Whether you go to The Columbus Auto Show every year, or have never been, when the time comes to see what that new ride you’ve been thinking about is like when rubber actually hits blacktop, just stop by the Ricart Megamall. We’ll be waiting for you

Ricart Ford has the right Ford for your deadstyle!

   Most people don’t realize the Ford F150 Raptor was specifically designed in response to leaked information about a secret program creating undead creatures, a program rumored to be taking place

right here in Raccoon City!

   Not really...

   Ok, maybe "Resident Evil 6" wasn’t so good, but "World War Z" was a huge hit, "The Walking Dead" is still sprinting, "The Last of Us" became an instant classic, and like the masses of walkers surrounding the mall in "Dawn of the Dead", there is no end in sight. With that in mind (brains!), let’s look at Ford’s vehicle line-up, and how they fit various zombie deadstyles!

   Let’s start with the classic and original zombies from George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”; rugged, purposeful and relentless… they will not stop, just like Ford F150 trucks! And while Romero’s ghouls have a voracious appetite for brains, the F150’s available Ecoboost engine means you’ll spend less money and time at the pump! 

    

   The 2013 romantic comedy “Warm Bodies” gave us zombies who could think, and by the virtue of love, become human again. These thinking undead really don’t have to put a ton of thought into driving one of Ford’s Hybrid or Electric vehicles. The C-Max Energi or Hybrid, Fusion Hybrid, or Focus Electric, all have great economy, amazing style, and cutting edge technology. It doesn’t take a high functioning brain to drive smart!!

    

   The 21^st century saw a major shift in zombie philosophy. Zombies in the new century still view humans as their entrée of choice, but movies like “28 Days Later”, Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” and the Brad Pit big screen adaptation of “World War Z” made them fast. Inhumanly fast! And if you are a zed-head in the new millennium, Ford’s got the speed you need. Mustang offers a slew of packages and options to take you from quick with the V6 pony, to ripping the screaming tires off the back from a dead stop with the Shelby 500, and all points in between! Or as a Zack runner, you may want the thrill of the Focus ST, the Focus that’s not for the faint of heart, whether it’s beating or not!

   

    The new century has given us way more Zombies than we have ever had before, and “The Walking Dead” comics, novels, and television series gave rise to “the hoard”, which is cool, because Ford has cars, CUV’s and SUV’s that’ll help get that walker team to the soccer pitch, or the shamble family down the block to the school play comfortably, economically, and looking good… at least the Ford vehicle is good looking. Whether it’s the Escape or Explorer, Edge or Flex, Taurus, Fusion, or Focus, Ford has the right vehicle for every undeadstyle. And if you happen to still be warm, you can stop by Ricart Ford in The Megamall and find the Ford for your, ummm,  lifestyle!

Embrace the future of driving at Ricart Ford... Or at least learn to be comfortable with it!

   Gas powered. Diesel powered. Gas and electric hybrid. All electric. Warp drive. Flux capacitor. Okay, so the last two not so much, but gas, diesel, hybrid, and electric are now all viable options for powering your automobile, and at Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megamall, you can check out all of them. We are patiently awaiting the plasma drive and flux capacitor.


   Technology has given us so many choices for our motor vehicles it almost feels like we are living in a Science Fiction novel from the past. The thing is, all this technology can be a bit daunting to some folks, but with familiarity comes acceptance, and Ricart Ford is the perfect place to get to know what state of the art is in the driving world.

   A few years ago, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Ford SYNC, MyFord Touch, turn by turn navigation, and all the stuff we touched on in an earlier posting on this blog seemed so foreign, especially when you think about the first time you saw a video screen on a car’s dash. “Whoa dude! You watching Two and a Half Men on that?”

   We became used to seeing, then using all those tools quickly, and now it’s a little hard to think about a vehicle without them. The next generation vehicles we have available to us now will also seem just as common place sooner than later, so don’t be afraid to embrace the Ford Focus Electric, C-Max Energi or Hybrid, Fusion Hybrid or Energi, or at least learn a bit about them. Stop by Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megamall and ask to check out the vision we have for the future of automobiles with a vehicle tour and a test drive or two.

Your smart phone can do so much more than all the computer systems used to put a man on the moon combined, and you use it every day without a second thought. When you think about that, the new technologies offered by Ford don’t seem foreign anymore, do they? See you soon!

It’s seems the stereotype for supermodels includes the belief that they are all vacuous, empty headed. All they are is a pretty face and chiseled body. But when you consider Cindy Crawford was offered a full boat scholarship to study Chemical Engineering, and Carmen Kass was a chess champion, that belief just doesn’t hold water. Such is the case with Ford’s 2013 redesign of the Fusion. It’s much more than beauty and great lines, it’s THE family sized sedan that manages to be hot, economical, safe, technologically advanced, and a segment butt-kicker all in one! Like Cindy Crawford with Ninja training and all the equipment used by Tony Stark (Ironman), James Bond, and Batman!

Looking at the redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion the styling is apparent, but what you can’t see until you get in one, are things like the increased leg room no matter where you sit, plenty of places to put stuff (including a 16 cubic foot trunk), and a smooth quiet ride. Check out what The Car Connection offered up about the new Fusion.

Great looks, great driving, and great safety features (the 2013 Fusion is an IIHS Top Safety Pick), and the available EcoBoost engine, Hybrid, and EnErgi versions deliver fuel economy that makes other manufacturers green with envy, and the 2013 Ford Fusion, well… Green! That means Fusion delivers the complete package, according to the New York Times.

If you have driven a previous version of the Ford Fusion, you are in for a treat when you stop by The Ricart Megamall to take the 2013 Fusion for a drive. If you have never driven Fusion before, then get ready for the sedan you have always wanted, but never dreamed you would find! Drive the new 2013 Ford Fusion today at Ricart Ford, on our 6 acre test track, on the road, or both. It’s time to see, feel, and experience the new Fusion yourself.

Fall car maintenance... and zombies at Ricart.

You’re taking a pleasant walk with your dog through the woods at a park. It’s twilight, and the shadows among the trees are starting to take on other-worldly appearances. You aren’t worried though, having walked the trails of this park many times.

As the light fades more noticeably and you start to head back to your car, your dog begins to whine as if sensing something in the surrounding trees and bushes, but you hear or see nothing out of the ordinary, and coax the canine to follow you. After a few more steps, the dog becomes dead weight on the leash as he stops, facing back up the trail with a low rumbling growl. You turn to see what has gotten into the dog, and notice a figure lumbering through the trees. Then you see another figure, then a couple of more. Something must be wrong with those people because they all seem to be stumbling through the growing darkness. It’s time to get back to your car!

You pull the leash hard, and with it the dog, as you begin to walk with greater purpose toward the parking lot. Suddenly the dog passes you, whining loudly, as he begins pulling you hard down the path to where your car is parked. The reassuring sounds of nightfall, the crickets and the fading calls of song birds, are quickly overwhelmed by the growing din of a large group of people now crashing through the underbrush and trees. You move faster and faster, the dog pulling you ahead harder and harder. You look over your shoulder and see many of the dark figures following you now, and notice they don’t seem to move quite right, but you are too scared now to try and figure out why.

With your car just ahead, you are running full speed, the dog still racing ahead of you jerking the leash and your arm hard. When you reach the car, you yank open the door, the dog leaps across the driver’s seat to sit shotgun, you hurl yourself into the car, jam the key into the ignition as you see the first zombies spilling from the woods onto the parking lot and heading toward you! You turn the key in the ignition, and… you guessed it… the car does not start!
Maybe it’s the battery, maybe the starter. Who knows? Had you taken the time to get your vehicle serviced regularly by the Factory trained and certified technicians at Ricart, you would be half way home now, and not a snack for the zombie horde.

Sure, zombies are not real, but rain, ice, and snow storms are. So are dark nights in a lonely parking lot. So to avoid having a bad vehicle experience under any conditions, make sure to follow the vehicle maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual, and call Ricart Service at 614-836-6300 to set up your next appointment.

Looks like the new Fords are arriving at Ricart Ford.

One of the best car related movie lines ever uttered came during a car chase in the original “Blue Brothers Movie” where, after slamming into the plate glass windows of a car dealership in the mall, Ellwood Blues says to his brother Jake, “Looks like the new Oldsmobiles are in early this year!”.

Fall is the traditional start of the automotive new model year, an event celebrated for decades with a stop by the car lot with your parents or grandparents just to see what’s new, whether a new car was on the family horizon soon or not. Then there were, and still are, the ads promoting the newest and best in driving convenience, or style, or power, or, whatever in magazines, on the radio, on television, and eventually in emails, and all over on-line!.



2013 Ford C Max

2013 Ford Focus ST

 Of course, the introduction of Ford’s 2013 model year is no different than all those past years, except maybe for the fact the 2013 Mustangs came out this spring, along with the 2013 Edge and Taurus, and the 2013 Escape redesign was introduced early this summer, and all have been hits! Sure, those great vehicles showed up on the lot and in folks’ driveways early, but there is still plenty of excitement this fall at Ricart Ford with the arrival of the 2013 Ford Focus ST just a few days ago, which will be followed very soon by the C-Max Hybrid and Energi, and after that the Fusion Energi and the Focus Electric. See, there are plenty of reasons to get stoked about the traditional new model year season this year, and all of them are stylish, economical, technologically advanced, and planet friendly!


So this fall, take some time to continue the tradition of marking the new model year with a walk through the new Fords at The Ricart Megamall, or at ricart.com, and see what’s new, what’s innovative, and what you’ll want parked in your driveway soon!

Free show in the sky worth a ride in your Ricart Ford May 20th!

There's a free show coming just before sunset on May 20th, 2012. Hey! That's a Sunday! Great! Let's hope for nice weather!

No, it's not a live performance of "Dark Side of the Moon", but it's really cool, and your Ricart Ford Family didn't want you to miss out the chance to enjoy something you just can't see every day... a partial solar eclipse. If you want to see the total eclipse, grab the family or some friends, fill up your Ford, and head west a few states.

To see the partial eclipse, find a good place to look westward with as few ground objects between you and the western horizon as possible. Plan on arriving at your spot by 8 p.m. or so on the evening of the 20th, weather permitting. The event should begin a bit after 8:00, and you should begin to see the Moon's shadow blocking a bit of the Sun's disc. The Moon should cover as much of the Sun it's going to by about 8:40, or about the time the Sun will set completely.

Remember to never look directly into the sun! That would not be good because it can damage your eyes. So if you are gonna view the eclipse, check out how NASA suggests you do it. Make sure any children with you follow the viewing guidelines, or stay at home and watch it from Mt. Fujiyama in Japan at go-green.ae.

If you want to find out even more, you can check out Annular Solar Eclipse May 20. 2012 on Facebook.
While you are on Facebook, just go ahead and like Ricart Automotive too. You know you want to!

So pack some snacks, and maybe a blanket for the ground... put together a good tunes list on your player or phone, hop in your Ford, and head to that spot you have picked out. It'll be a great way to end the weekend, so have fun! If we don't see you out there, we'll see you the next time you visit the Ricart Megamall.

Right after the last of the Holiday decorations have been packed away, and the din of New Year’s celebrations and Bowl Games fades into the past, it is, to the uninitiated, a quiet time of year. The lull between football and The Daytona 500 or Spring Training can seem deceptively quiet and uneventful. But those with motor oil in their veins… gears spinning in their noggins… and thoughts of rubber meeting road know better. This. Is. Car Show Season. And as usual, Ford is the star!

Running through January 22nd, The 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which we’ll just call the NAIAS from now on (to reduce the risk of a finger sprain with all those extra letters), runs the gamut from really boring to outrageous concepts that nobody would ever really build in a million years. But what that really means is something can be found for everyone at the show.

Before jumping to the extremes, how about some news from Detroit that you will actually use in your life? And of course, it’s from Ford.

The Ford Sync and My Ford touch are now superstar options in the industry, with other manufacturers trying to come up with matching technologies that always seem to look like weak copy attempts, or fall completely flat on their faces. So that probably explains why the early hit at the 2012 NAIAS is the Ford Fusion for 2013. As a matter of fact, it took less than a half hour for Consumer Reports to declare that with the Fusion, "Ford stole the show!”

Of course the new Fusion has SYNC and My Ford Touch, along with a new lane assist feature which helps you keep it between the lines, auto parking for parallel parking, blind spot detection, and adaptive cruise control, and c/net has an overview of the advancements. And autoblog has a good rundown as well.

Add to its style, all the technological advancements already mentioned to a Hybrid system update, or the ability to get an Ecoboost engine to save on fuel costs, and a plug in version, and it becomes obvious why Ford’s Fusion is already in the passing lane, and is set to accelerate past Camry in a big way.

Oh, and it looks great too!

Is it the end, the beginning, or simply SOP at Ricart Ford?

   So you probably wonder just what the title of this post means. The answer is, it means it all. It's Ricart Ford's Year End Celebration with special Holiday specials and a really cool Holiday video, it's the start of a new year at Ricart Ford, and Motor Trend just announced the 2012 F150 as the Motor Trend Truck of the Year Winner, which is pretty much standard operating procedure for a truck that won the award in 1997, 2004, and 2009 as well!

   Upon receiving the 2012 Truck award, Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields said, "The 2012 F150 is a no compromise solution that can be tailored to fit virtually every customer's needs, and the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award further reinforces that this truly the best choice for America's
truck owners. We are proud to receive this award, and even more pleased that our F150 customers have additional validation of their top choice". In non-corporate speak, that means Ford thinks its great that you love the F150 and the critics do too.
   The 2012 Ford Focus redesign has been a huge hit at Ricart Ford since they arrived this summer, and the technology you can find in Focus, and across the entire Ford line, meant plenty of Edison Awards for Ford earlier this year, awards that prove Ford's integration of your vehicle into your life is spot on with technologies that enhance the vehicle experience like no other manufacturer, and do it with economy in mind.

   At Ricart Ford, we've sold a whole bunch of Ford cars, trucks, CUV's, and SUV's this year, and will help even more folks get that new Ford they want before the clock finishes striking twelve on December 31st. After that, we'll get started on 2012, winning more awards, making more friends, and doing what we love to do best... making you happy with your new Ford.

Ricart Ford in The Ricart Automotive Megamall is working with 101 Mobility to offer affordable technologies that make driving and enjoying a motor vehicle accessible to people with physical challenges, or who have family members who require special transportation considerations.

On Saturday, October 24 from 9a-12n, Ricart Ford will host informative and enlightening presentations by 101 Mobility in the Ford Showroom at 4255 South Hamilton Rd. which will showcase the tools now available to assist in making vehicle ownership and operation easier or even possible for many. From lifts, to ramps, to sources of funding assistance and more, 101 Mobility, a leader in local mobility and access equipment, and Ricart Ford will provide valuable information beneficial to anybody with mobility and vehicle questions. The Ricart Ford Mobility Team will also discuss the various manufacturer programs available to assist in the purchase of mobility devices and conversions for passenger vehicles.

Along with the displays and demonstrations, including a fully functional demo auto lift, refreshments will be served during the event, and 101 Mobility is offering free installation of all new mobility products sold at Ricart Ford that day. Guests can also register to win a 101 Mobility scooter.

Anyone with questions can call 866-392-3394. More information about 101 Mobility can be found at http://www.101mobility.com/, and about Ricart Automotive at www.ricart.com.

0% on F-series and Taurus at Ricart Ford

“Nothin’ from nothin’ means nothin’… you gotta have nothin’, if you wanna be with me!”

According to Billy Preston (the true fifth Beatle) in his 1974 song, and more importantly, according to Ricart Ford and Ford Credit recently, nothin’ really means something because there’s a lot of nothin’ happening right now for qualified buyers of new 2008 F-series trucks, Taurus’, or Taurus X’s… no interest for 60 months with financing through Ford Credit.

“Now wait a minute,” I know you are asking yourself, “what about the credit crunch?” If you want a new 2008 F150 through F550 truck, or a new 2008 Ford Taurus or Taurus X, there is no crunch, there’s 0% for 60 months when you qualify through Ford. That’s more like an anti-crunch! A none crunch! A complete lack of crunchiness! Hot oatmeal as opposed to dry corn flakes. You get the idea.

What it all boils down to is this. If you have been thinking about a new Ford F-series truck, or a new Taurus or Taurus X, you can save thousands in finance charges by getting to Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megamall as soon as you can for the best selection, and while you still have time, because this 0% offer ends November 3, 2008.

Oh, and if you are old enough to remember the Billy Preston song, I really am sorry it will be playing in your head for the rest of the day. At least it’s not Melanie’s “Brand New Key”! (“I got a brand new pair of roller skates…”)

Let's Refuel America... Gas Gimmick

Chrysler has just announced what it calls the “Let’s Refuel America” program, which promises that you will pay $2.99 a gallon for gas for the next three years, no matter how high the actual cost may rise. Sounds easy huh? Sounds great too, huh? Well, I contacted a friend of mine who graduated from MIT to do the math the way it is laid out in the program. He was busy and promptly referred me to an MSNBC.com article that said someone buying a 2008 Dodge Durango would save just over $400 a year with an average three year gas price of $3.61 a gallon (the current average price in the Detroit area).

Hmmm… $400 a year for three years sounds a lot less than the $4000 rebates available on a 2008 Ford Explorer. I guess that means Ford wants you to have gas money, and a little something to spend on a drive away vacation, about $2800 worth of something!! Formula you ask? Why, yes, there is a formula involved where you factor in 12,000 miles per year, the vehicle’s government fuel economy rating and the cost of a gallon of gas. I don’t know about you, but any promotion that requires me to do more math than simply reducing my price by a pretty good chunk of coin makes me more than a little suspect… especially one that makes your savings a crap shoot. It also gives me a head ache.

To be honest, I have had it with fear mongering, and to be sure, this Chrysler promotion is nothing more than that. The formally American, then German, (then American again?) automaker is playing off the fear that more violence in the Middle East, or South America, or wherever will have an adverse affect on the oil supply and send gas prices ever higher, which is the only way you really come out ahead with this program. I don’t know, I’d rather drive around this summer and beyond in my new 2008 Ford Focus at nearly 40 miles per gallon, enjoying the car, my family, and the driving experience and not sit around rooting for more world unrest to inflate the price of gas… how about you?

2008 Ford Taurus...Time to get Bullish on Ford

The new 2008 Ford Taurus has just arrived at Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio...and we await the stampede of customers that won't be far behind.The reintroduction of one of the most iconic cars in history truly is an event for Ford, and Ricart Ford as well.

The new 2008 Taurus has earned the right to be called the safest full-sized car in America, and also has best in class passenger room and trunk space...and still gets nearly 30 mpg on the highway!!

Sure, I could tell you all kinds of details about the Taurus, and quote a few engineers and critics, but bag that! Just stop in and drive it, either on the Ricart test track, or the street...this really is a car that speaks for itself...no, make that screams for itself, once you get behind the wheel!

In case you haven't noticed yet (and many have not) the idea that Pacific manufacturers build better cars than Ford is a load, and hasn't been true for a while. Climb into the new Ford Taurus, close the door behind you and you'll see...the Taurus will stand toe to toe against any other full-sized car on the planet and never flinch.

It's time to be bullish about Ford again, in the new 2008 Taurus!

Unless you are a regular on a few of the Mustang boards out here in the wild, wild, web, you probably missed Ford’s impersonation of Karl Rove when they leaked information on the forthcoming late 07 and 08 Mustangs.

Okay, it really was more like a flood of information than a leak, so let’s get right into it!
The 2008 model year will see the return of the Bullitt version of the Mustang GT with a projected 312 horsepower, retuned suspension, red brake calipers, unique sill plate and grille design (without fog lamps), 18” Bullitt wheels, upgraded steering system, X pipe exhaust, rear (faux) gas cap with Bullitt logo, metal interior trim and Bullitt shifter along with Bullitt seats, and more! The only thing missing is the ghost of Steve McQueen!
No pricing yet on the Bullitt, but with only 7,000 to be built for the U.S. and 700 for Canada, the Bullitt will be a keeper at any price!

If the 500 horsepower of the Shelby GT500 is a bit daunting for you, the late release 2007 and 2008 Super Snake Shelby’s will scare the livin’ daylights out of you! 725 horsepower!! 725 HORSEPOWER!!
When the Shelby Super Snake hits the showroom floor, it will have two HP choices…a tire smoking 600 horsepower, and a mind-blowing 725 horsepower, both generated by the use of a Ford Racing supercharger upgrade kit which will help the Supers crank 590 ft/lbs of torque. This will not be a car given to anyone for their 16th birthday!
The Super Snake will see a host of alterations and additions which truly put it in a class all it’s own, like the Ford Racing exhaust system, handling package and short –throw shifter, 20” Alcoa wheels designed by Shelby, Baer six piston brakes with calipers cast by Shelby and larger rotors, front brake cooling ducts, Shelby design composite hood with Shelby lettering (also on the rear deck lid), Shelby CSM dash plate, Shelby signature embroidered headrests and floor mats, and Super Snake badging.
No word yet on the numbers to be produced each year, but the Mustangs that end up with the Shelby Super Snake brand on them will probably never be more than a very limited number. These are cars you’ll see selling for serious cash at Barrett-Jackson sooner than later!

If you want to be the first on your block (or in your state) to have one of the new Mustangs in your driveway, you can call Ricart Ford at 888-250-2573 and we’ll contact you as soon as they start shipping. Oh, and you can check back here periodically for any new information on the Bullitt and Super Snake.

Ford to Flex this summer!

With the unfolding of spring each year, our thoughts seem to turn to things which are new. We think of baseball, and the fact that all teams are in first place at the beginning of April. We ponder the first blooming flowers, the returning warm weather birds, and if you knew about the Ford Flex, you’d be wondering how soon you can get your family in one, and will it be in time for this year’s vacation season? “What are you talking about?” I know you’re asking…I feel your desire for knowledge, and this is the 2009 Ford Flex, the full-size crossover that will easily change the family road vacation forever, and everyday driving too!

Okay, you can pick your jaw off the floor now, because it’s obvious the 2009 Ford Flex sticks its tongue out at mini-vans instead of paying them homage! Dad, you will never be embarrassed driving the Flex thanks to its bold features and over-all design, and the fuel efficient six speed 3.5 liter V-6 engine won’t have you weeping like a baby at the gas pump! The crossover has surpassed the SUV in sales, and the Flex has what it takes to widen the gap.
Due in stores this Summer, the Flex will feature accent points like the chrome, horizontal three bar grille, a “greenhouse” window and roof design which give a unique look from the outside, and broad panoramic views of the world for passengers on the inside, along with tail lamps that borrow heavily from the Edge, and integrated rocker panels that you do not have to step over to leave or enter the vehicle.


Once you are inside the Ford Flex, you’ll experience an interior which offers up craftsmanship second to no vehicle in any class, which was inspired by furniture and fashion designs and uses materials which gives a soft yet modern feel and appearance. You’ll also see things on the inside of the 2009 Flex that’ll surprise you. How about a refrigerator between the second row captain’s chairs…and yes, it is a refrigerator with a compressor and the whole nine yards, not just a cooler, and it can keep four two liters cold!

While you’re enjoying a chilled beverage, you’ll notice the best-in-class legroom in the second row, the footrests (yes, there is actually enough room in the Flex for footrests), and the Vista Roof which gives everyone in the Flex a view of the heavens! You’ll also find the Flex has programmable ambient lighting, cap-less fuel filler system (so you’ll never drive off with your gas cap dangling in the wind again!), Ford/Microsoft’s Sync hands free System, Ford’s next gen nav system, an their industry exclusive door entry pad held within the Flex’s B pillars, ending the need for those door mounted button pads.

If Flex had a middle name, it would have to be safety, with a whole slew of advancements including use of high strength boron steel, side intrusion beams in the doors, AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Safety Canopy side curtain air bag, and rear back-up camera mounted in the lift gate Ford badge. Secure, spacious, and stylish are great ways to describe the forthcoming Ford Flex, but we are sure you’ll come up with a few more adjectives and accolades of your own when the Flex hits Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio and Ford stores across the country this Summer.

Spring may be the time to think of things which are new…but there’s a whole bunch of folks already looking forward to summer, and the new 2009 Ford Flex!!

Ford Focus fords floodwaters!

It was a dark and stormy night…
Okay, it was actually a gray and rainy morning, but the previous night certainly was dark and stormy, which is why the parking area for the townhouse we live in was a lake by dawn, and it was still raining.
Sure, big honkin’ trucks with twelve feet of ground clearance were able to drive through the water with the wake flowing after them like an inboard towing a couple of water skiers, but anything smaller would surely be doomed attempting to ford the flood. At least that’s what I thought.
Being of hardy New English stock, I surveyed the situation, and decided that a little flood water would not keep me from driving in to work, so I climbed into my Ford Focus, backed out of my parking space, and headed for the shoreline. It was then that I noticed the Police had barricaded the street to the left, so I had no choice but to turn right around my neighbor’s house…and it was then I saw a Honda Civic and Toyota Tercel stalled in another massive pool of water. They didn’t make it through, and probably should never have tried.
By this time, I had no choice but to press on, through the same lake which now had two import islands, one white, the other gold. Water was actually flowing over the hood of my Focus as I descended into the water, and I tapped the accelerator and tried to avoid the fate of Atlantis as I increased my speed. It was one of those driving situations that has you saying a prayer that begins with, “God, if you let me make it…”, and ends with a promise to give up some vice.
Despite my best efforts at reenacting “The Poseidon Adventure”, my Ford Focus made it through like a champ, unlike the Toyota and Honda that are still stuck where they stalled.
I love my Focus!

Ford knows trucks...Toyota, not so much!

I just got done watching a For Eyes Only video from Ford. In the video, an undercover Rick Titus, host of "Driver's Talk", visits the Toyota Booth at the recent International Auto Show in Detroit and picks apart the new Toyo Tundra from frame to interior, and does it sooo easily. I wish I could give you a link to the video, but there must be some legal reason for Ford not making it available. I think it's because Ford actually used Toyo's display at the Auto Show for Rick's presentation. That's a major Bold Move in my book!

Anyway, in a nutshell Rick's commentary cut to the bone, mentioning Toyo's much heralded new brakes for the Tundra (which I guess is an admission to the fact that for years their brakes have been woefully undersized), the ill-conceived grill (which is ugly as a wicked step-sister and will require constant cleaning due to bug build-up), the gas guzzling 5.7 liter optional engine (can I mention that the standard engines are very underpowered for the Toyota truck), and Rick also pointed out the lovely Camry interior in the new Tundra (you know...it doesn't matter if you dress your sister up like your Dad, she's still your sister)!

Ford has been the truck leader for 30 years with the F-series, and Toyota is hardly a threat to mount a real challenge, especially when you consider that many of the changes made to the Tundra this year were merely corrections of Toyota's past mistakes.

Here's to another 30 years of Ford truck dominance!

Taurus To Return!...(At Least in Name)

For over twenty years, the Ford Taurus was an automotive icon. Actually, it was more than that...the Taurus was an American icon, and it will likely be again! Word on the street, confirmed by The Associated Press, is that Ford is planning on renaming the Ford Five-Hundred as the Ford Taurus and making the announcement as early as this week at the Chicago Auto Show.

With its introduction back in 1985, the Taurus put the automotive industry off its axis and never looked back, becoming the best selling car in America in 1992, a title Taurus held for five years, and changing the shape and style of cars forever.

With a style revamping set for the 2008 model year, now is the best time to rename the Ford Five-Hundred, and the new legacy filled "tag" (if it happens) should boost sluggish sales and increase awareness of a really great car that's getting even better, no matter what Ford calls it!

2008 Ford Super Duty Hits the Lot and Super Bowl!

Look for the new 2008 Ford Super Duty commercials during the Super Bowl broadcast on Sunday 2/4/2007!

During the ice and snow storms that raced across the southwest and south in December, Ford held a ride and drive for the brand new, redesigned 2008 Super Duty trucks in Texas, where the 150 or so journalists had the chance to drive the new F-Super Duty trucks under less than perfect driving conditions…and they all loved the trucks, and the chance to put them to a real world test. While driving, hauling, and towing in ice and snow, the following were overheard:
“I was expecting a good truck from you guys, and I pretty much had my story already written. The drive today proved what I thought, this is a great truck! In theses terrible conditions, it felt really confident!”
“The new Super Duty has really impressive towing. The ability to haul that 20,000 pound trailer was just amazing. The frame on this truck feels so solid and durable.” “That truck has grunt like I have never felt in a vehicle. Even on the really sloppy stuff, it just felt unstoppable!”
“This is a really amazing truck…the best in class. You can really sense that the engineers took their time to get this right.”
“We had mainly highway driving today…it was a good opportunity to feel how good and comfortable it felt. One thing is for sure, the diesel engine feels really powerful. Passing is easy, even from 70 mph. It always feels willing to accelerate!”
And then there were those reporters who stood and stared slack-jawed. They just about said it all without saying a thing!
Last time out, we outlined some of the new offerings on the 2008 Ford Super Duty trucks, but enough with the words already. If you are a truck person, it is time to get thee to the Ford store and take a drive. Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio has both diesel and gas versions of the new F-Super Duty available right now to test drive on the road or their six acre test track. Quieter, tougher, greener, more comfortable, smoother, more economical, the best Ford truck ever…just thought I’d give you a few more words to think about while you drive in to take a new Ford Super Duty for a spin.
If you can't stop by your Ford store now, watch for Ford's Super Duty commercials during the Super Bowl on Sunday, featuring some of the innovations that make the new Super Duty the best Ford trucks ever!!

Presenting The 2008 Ford F-Super Duty

Ford’s new 2008 F-Super Duty trucks are a redesign that takes the industry to a higher level, by pulling even more of what you need to tow, hauling more of what you need to haul, and doing it more cleanly, more comfortably, with greater style, and more dependably than any other truck maker…you know, the same as it has been for the past 30 years with the Ford F-series trucks!!!
Before Ford’s designers and engineers put pen to paper they talked with folks like you, real truck owners, to see exactly what you needed from your Super Duty, and then they built the exact truck you wanted, with features and details that lift the Ford Super Duty even farther above the competition!
The introduction of the new F450 makes it the logical choice for the 90% of Super Duty owners who use their truck for towing, because it seems like the loads keep getting heavier all the time, and the new Ford F450 gives you the combination of powertrain, axel, and suspension that let you get the job done while presenting a comfortable and precise driving experience. It looks great too, but more on that later.
Pete Reyes, Ford Super Duty Chief Engineer says of the new F450, “The increased towing and cargo hauling capability, the engine enhancements, and all the refinements make the F450 absolutely the most capable pickup truck we have ever built…period! And that is exactly what are customers are asking for.”
Leading the way for the 2008 Super Duty innovations is the new 6.4 liter Power Stroke diesel, the cleanest, quietest, and most powerful Power Stroke ever! The new 6.4 liter gives you 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm, and 650 lb.-ft. of torque cranking at 2,000 rpm, which in layman’s terms means that the F450 can pull down a building in short order, if you ever had to do such a thing. With multiple technical advances, including the application of Ford’s Clean Diesel Technology, the new 6.4 liter Power Stroke has reduced particulate discharge by 90%, giving it an emissions rate comparable to a gasoline engine. It’s been said that while driving in a metropolitan area like New York, Chicago, or L.A., what’s coming out of the tailpipe of the 6.4 liter is actually cleaner than the air going through the intake!!
The new Power Stroke has two turbochargers for optimal performance, with a small turbo that comes on at low rpm to give you a bit of a boost at take-off, and as rpm climb the bigger turbocharger joins in to boost power even more until you reach speed, when the small turbo will let it’s big brother do the work by itself. All this means that the 6.4 liter reaches 60 mph more than a second faster than the engine it is replacing.
Of course the 2008 Super Duties have the available TowCommand System, including the first factory installed and warranted electronic trailer brake controller, including special procedures for braking when the ABS system reads poor traction conditions. This system also has TorqShift technology which keeps the rpm up and provides you with more power when you need it most.
The 2008 Super Duty boasts improvements and innovative thinking both inside and out. The first external change most people notice is the raised nose and enlarged grill, which not only gives the truck a bolder face (especially with Super Duty etched into the upper plate of the grill), but also enhances functionality by improving engine cooling, which gives the truck a better towing capacity. I guess that cements the fact that the new Super Duty ain’t just another pretty face!
While maintaining the classic Ford truck styling cues, the new Super Duty trucks have a new tailgate design, including the now standard Lift-Assist Tailgate System, a deeper rear bumper which gives easier access to the bed, redesigned tail lamps and hood, and fender mounted air vents to release heat from the engine compartment. The fender air vents are even color coded to define the trucks powertrain…black for gas and red for diesel. When you combine the exterior revisions with all new seats, instrument cluster and treatment, a totally revamped climate control system, and all the other interior changes, you get a truck that is comfortable and practical. That’s great news for those of us who practically live in their trucks!
You get so much new stuff with Ford’s new 2008 Super Duty trucks, it’s just too hard to tell you about it in a blog, so you’ll need to stop into the Ford store to see and drive them yourself. The new Supers are expected to arrive at Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio by the weekend of January 27th, so I guess we’ll see you over the weekend…and until then, you’ll be seeing the new 2008 Ford Super Duty trucks in your sleep, because it is the truck of your dreams!